Figure 1.--Most of the images we have noted of boys wearing white long stockings were younger boys. We do note a new portaits of older boys wearing sporty summer outfits with white long stockings. This portrait is undated, but we believe was taken in the 1910s.

While black was the dominant color for long stockings, we do begin to notice the appearance of the lighter colors, especially tan, brown, and beige. This seems to be the decade where lighter and darker colors of long stockings became more of a popular choice. Black was still a very prominent color.But lighter colors were also beginning to be seen. The 1918 ad for Kazoo suspender waists shows the older of the two boys wearing black long stockings, but his two younger siblings, a girl and a boy, are wearing either white or light tan long stockings with their different versions of the Kazoo waist. Also the 1919 advertisements for push-cars and tricycles (velocipedes) shows boys wearing not black but tan long stockings with short pants (or at least shorter-length knee pants). We note a magazine illustration depicting a boy wearing what looks like light grey stockings in a 1913 magazine. It is notable here, however, that the lighter colors seem to be worn mainly by boys 12 years of age or younger. An ad for a young lad's Oliver Twist suit shows the model wearing what appear to be brown rather than black stockings, and the Allheneeds waist suit ad (1915) shows a very young boy wearing either white or, more likely, beige long stockings with his waist union suit. In 1915 long stockings for infants were advertised in baby colors (pale blue, pink, and white), but the same year an ad for Stuart's waists shows a boy about 8 wearing the traditional black long stockings attached to the accompanying supporters. So lighter colors were being worn in the 1910s although it is probably fair to say that black long stockings still dominated the market--especially for older boys.

Black Was the Dominant Color

While black was the dominant color for long stockings in the 1910s. Black long stockings continued to be the dominant color worn by boys as well as girls. The HBC photographic record clearly shows the prominance of black. Most photographs show children in the 1910s wearing black long stockings. Many school photograps show most and often all of the children wearing black long stockings. A good example is the Newhall School in California. The advertisements for the various kinds of garters and hose supporters continued to show black stockings as the usual thing to wear with suspender waists, pin-on hose supporters, and other kinds of support devices. For instance, the ads for Velvet Grip Hose Supporters in 1911 show boys wearing black long stockings, and so do the 1918 ads for suspender waists (both the Kazoo and the Samson brands).

Lighter Colors

We do begin to notice the appearance of the lighter colored stockings, especially tan, brown, and beige. This seems to be the decade where lighter and darker colors of long stockings became more of a popular choice. We see many examples archived on HBC. A good example is the Hubbard brothers in 1917. Black was still a very prominent color. But lighter colors were also beginning to be seen. The 1918 ad for Kazoo suspender waists shows the older of the two boys wearing black long stockings, but his two younger siblings, a girl and a boy, are wearing either white or light tan long stockings with their different versions of the Kazoo waist. Also the 1919 advertisements for push-cars and tricycles (velocipedes) shows boys wearing not black but tan long stockings with short pants (or at least shorter-length knee pants). We note a magazine illustration depicting a boy wearing what looks like light grey stockings in a 1913 magazine. It is notable here, however, that the lighter colors seem to be worn mainly by boys 12 years of age or younger. An ad for a young lad's Oliver Twist suit shows the model wearing what appear to be brown rather than black stockings, and the Allheneeds waist suit ad (1915) shows a very young boy wearing either white or, more likely, beige long stockings with his waist union suit. In 1915 long stockings for infants were advertised in baby colors (pale blue, pink, and white), but the same year an ad for Stuart's waists shows a boy about 8 wearing the traditional black long stockings attached to the accompanying supporters. So lighter colors were being worn in the 1910s although it is probably fair to say that black long stockings still dominated the market--especially for older boys.

White Colors

We note mostly girls younger boys wearing white long stockings in fancy dress up outfits. This was more common in the 1900s, but we still see these white stockings in the 1910s, especially the early 1910s. They were worn with all white outfits such as tunic suits. We also see them worn with black Fauntleroy outfits. A good example is Winthrop Rockefeller in a 1919 family portrait. The use of white long stockings was normally formality. Long stockings were often worn for warmth, but often these white long stockings were worn durng the Summer. Mother also used the white long stockings to give a touch of elegance even for occassions that did not require formal dress.

Created: 7:42 AM 1/9/2005
Last updated: 12:23 AM 12/12/2007